The Buzz

As we near the end of the 2025 calendar year, our EES staff would like to wish our students, families, and caregivers a fun and restful break ahead. As a reminder, we do have school next Monday and Tuesday, December 22 and 23 (no after school program.) Winter break will begin on Wednesday, December 24 and school will resume on Monday, January 5.

Thank you for taking the time to read the information below, including details about upcoming preschool open houses and kindergarten/new student registration. If you have a preschool or incoming kindergarten student in your household, please be sure to mark the dates on your calendar. And, if you know of families in the community who have similar age children and do not have older students/siblings already in school, please spread the word!

Next Monday morning, we will hold our annual EES Winter Sing-along at morning assembly, beginning at 8:15am. Families and caregivers are welcome and encouraged to attend! This will be the final "Buzz" for 2025 -- we look forward to being in communication again in the new year.

Warmly,

Michelle Basile, Principal

December 22 - Morning Assembly Sing-a-long, 8:15am (parents and caregivers invited), No After School Program

December 22 and 23 - Last Day of School Before Winter Break, No After School Program

December 24-26 and December 29-January 2 - Winter Break

January 5 - School resumes

January 6 - No After School Program

January 12 - Morning Assembly, 8:15am

January 19 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No school for staff or students

January 22 - Early Release Day, 11:30am dismissal

Searching for additional calendar information? The calendars below may have what you are looking for!

Edmunds Elementary Website Calendar

Burlington School District 2025-2026 Calendar At a Glance

Burlington School District 2025-2026 Wall Calendar and Family Handbook

The EES chorus will be singing to support the Committee on Temporary Shelter's candlelight vigil tonight, Friday, December 19, at 5:15pm. Due to a parade on Church Street, the vigil will take place on the steps of city hall in city hall park instead of on the Church Street side. We will gather at 5:15 for the vigil at 5:30. The event will end with cocoa and cookies. Please dress warmly, as we will be outside.

Come celebrate the season with the EES Winter Sing-a-long! Monday, December 22, at 8:15 in the EES gym. Regardless of our family traditions, we all share the experience of winter in Vermont. Singing together is a great way to raise our spirits during these darkest days of the year. We will sing some traditional winter songs as well as some that may be new to you. Come join the fun!

For the first time, parents looking for excellent preschool options are being invited to see BSD’s PreK classrooms and meet the staff. The Early Ed team is hosting Open Houses at all six schools in January 2026. No RSVP needed; parents just need to bring their children to any of the dates below!

January 7 - EES and Champlain, 8:30-9:30am

January 14 - SA and CP Smith, 8:30-9:30am

January 21 - IAA and Flynn, 8:30-9:30am

For questions about the open houses, contact Kate Fay at (802) 864-8463 or cfay@bsdvt.org. To learn more about BSD PreK, visit www.earlyed.bsdvt.org. Please note that attendance at an open house does not guarantee a placement in BSD’s PreK programs.

Kindergarten and New Student registration for the 2026/27 school year opens on January 2, 2026, and closes on February 27, 2026 (after this date, registration is on a rolling basis)

Burlington School District has six excellent elementary schools that families can choose from when registering their children. Please read the BSD 26/27 New Student Registration Information & Instructions to learn more about these schools, how to register online, and how to rank your preferences for which schools you would like your child/ren to attend.

If you do not have access to a computer or need assistance you may call or stop by the school office where there is access to a computer and help as needed with any questions.

Thank you to all families and caregivers who have been able to participate in our Food Support Gift Card Drive this year so far, whether it be through a donation or through a request for support. We feel fortunate to be among students, staff, and families coming together to be there for one another.

As a reminder, if your family may be in need of support as we approach the upcoming break, or if you are in a position to contribute, please click on the button below.

We kindly ask that all requests for support be made by the end of the school day next Monday, December 22. That will help ensure that we are able to communicate about resources on Tuesday before the break begins.

Thank you to the Howard Center School Services program for compiling and sharing this helpful list list of local community food resources. Please feel encouraged to use this list and/or to share this list with those who you may know that are seeking food resources information.

EES SPRING MUSICAL

It’s the time of year to sign up for our EES spring musical, Peter Pan! We are excited to be collaborating with Very Merry Theater for our 27th year! Performances will be March 13th & 14th, and cast auditions will be January 8th & 9th during lunch/recess. The cast will have rehearsals after school on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning January 12th (Please note that this year all cast members will be expected at Monday rehearsals BUT Wednesdays will be for smaller groups and we will send out the schedule each week), and the set crew will meet a few Wednesdays after school beginning in February. The 1st/2nd grade chorus will have 3 rehearsals during recess in February. More details can be found in the attached doc and links below to signups. We hope to have many students get involved with this super fun activity! Email Gretchen Platt with any questions: gshuman7005@yahoo.com

• CAST: https://forms.gle/Zugvu3rr9WXpNRsn8
• SET CREW: https://forms.gle/TzYgMWRTwgWQsbsD6
• 1st/2nd GRADE CHORUS: https://forms.gle/VLLGzjmd4McjEN7x9

OTHER UPCOMING PTO EVENTS

January 31: Math Night

March 27: Community Traditions Night

May 1: Skate Night

May 31: End-of-Year BBQ

The Burlington School Food Project provides meals at no charge to all students 18 and under. Click below to see what's on the menu for upcoming weeks!